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Foreign Ministry Commemorates Africa Day

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attended a ceremony to celebrate Africa Day at the premises of the foreign ministry on Monday evening.

Africa Day is the annual commemoration on May 25 of the 1963 founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).

"The (Africa Day) is the beginning of the glorious liberation from colonialism for the nations of this continent, opening a new chapter of human dignity to the people of Africa," Zarif said in an address to the participants, according to a foreign ministry press release sent to Financial Tribune.

Noting that in the modern political literature, Africa is called "the continent of opportunities," he expressed interest on behalf of the Islamic Republic in enhancing ties with Africa in all areas. "Iran has established a special task force headed by First Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri to encourage trade with African states," he noted.

Pointing to the issue of terrorism in Africa and its expansion throughout the world, he censured world powers for their dual policy on the phenomenon by dividing it to "good vs. bad" terrorism, saying the situation in Yemen is a result of such an approach.

"As a victim of terrorism, the Islamic Republic of Iran extend its hand of cooperation to the countries who hold a fair approach toward the phenomenon," he noted.

Referring to the end of the second millennium as an end to "apartheid in the sense of racial discrimination," he hoped that the third millennium will be free from scientific, economic and cultural apartheid which is being imposed against many countries "in an illegal and cruel manner."